Schwenksville man arrested after police chase, crash in Trappe

TRAPPE — A Schwenksville man suspected of burglarizing a property in Perkiomen Township was arrested after a police chase and subsequent vehicle accident in Trappe Friday.

According to a press release from the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Geoffrey Gaines, 21, was suspected of taking items from a property and vehicle in the 100 block of Godshall Road in Perkiomen Township. Police located Gaines in a vehicle behind a residence in the 500 block of West Main Street in Trappe the same day the crime was reported, July 4. Gaines allegedly drove the vehicle he was in toward the investigating trooper, who was on foot and able to get out of the vehicle’s path before being hit, according to police.

Gaines fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed but crashed on West Seventh Avenue at the intersection with Betcher Road, police said. He fled the vehicle on foot but was captured by responding state police troopers. He was allegedly found to be in possession of the items stolen from the property in Perkiomen Township.

Gaines was charged with aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, theft, receiving stolen property, theft from a motor vehicle, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and disorderly conduct.

Gaines was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Harold D. Borek and remanded to Montgomery County Prison after being unable to post $75,000 cash bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar on July 18 at 9:30 a.m.